Development and Validation of Religious Tolerance Scale for Youth.

The objective of the present research was to develop and validate an indigenous scale of religious tolerance for young adults, based on Van der Walt (2014) model of religious tolerance. The two independent studies were conducted in this regard. In the first study, a pool of 81 items was generated and after qualitative analysis and pilot study, 53 items were retained for exploratory factor analysis. Using the data from the sample of (N = 500) students, the items were then subjected to principal component analysis using varimax rotation method. A factor solution based on 25 items and 7 well-structured factors was obtained. Afterward, a similar sample of (N = 282) students was obtained for confirmatory factor analysis that confirmed the factor structure of the scale with 23 items. In the second study, validation of the scale was determined by examining its convergent and discriminant validity with the original religious tolerance questionnaire and balanced dogmatism sale, respectively. The results of the study uphold religious tolerance scale as a promising indigenous psychometric measure for religious tolerance.

Suicidal Behavior Among the Youth With and Without Sensory Impairment: Prevalence and Comparison.

This comparative survey was conducted to explore the prevalence of suicidal behavior among the youth without sensory impairment (n = 595) as well as youth with sensory impairment: visual impairment (n = 537) and hearing impairment (n = 535). Suicidal behavior of the participants were assessed by the Urdu form of Suicidal Behavior Questionnaire. Findings indicated the higher prevalence of overall suicidal behavior among the participants with visual impairment (38%) as compared with the participants with (32%) and the youth (13%) without sensory impairment. Odds ratios further confirmed these results by showing the participants with visual impairment higher on suicidal behavior. Moreover access to counseling, monthly income of the parents, and severity level of disability appeared to be positive predictors of suicidal behavior among the participants. Thus, results showed that all of the three groups are at the risk of having suicidal behavior and, therefore, careful measures are required to be taken at prevention and intervention levels.

Burden of care and Suicidal Ideation among Mothers of Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder: Perceived Social Support as a Moderator.

OBJECTIVE: To examine the moderation effect of perceived social support between burden of care and suicidal ideation among mothers of children suffering from Autism Spectrum Disorder.. METHODS: The descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted from September 2017 to February 2018 in the Pakistani cities of Islamabad Lahore, Gujrat, Gujranwala, Jhelum and Sialkot, and comprised of mothers of Autism Spectrum Disorder children aged 7-12 years who were selected conveniently from the special schools in their respective cities. Standardized tools were used to assess the burden of care, perceived social support and suicidal ideation among the participants. SPSS 21 was used for data analysis. RESULTS: Of the 373 mothers approached, 356(95.4%) responded, but the study was completed by 339(95.2%) of them. There was positive relationship (p<0.01) between burden of care and suicidal ideation, and whereas results showed negative relationship among perceived social support, burden of care (p<0.001) and suicidal ideation (p<0.001). The burden of care positively (p<0.001) and perceived social support negatively (p<0.002) affected suicidal ideation. Perceived social support moderated the burden of care-suicidal ideation relationship (p<0.001) among the mothers.. CONCLUSIONS: Social support provided by the significant others lowered the burden of care and suicidal ideation among mothers of children with Autism Spectrum Disorder.

Prevalence and Predictors of Non-Suicidal Self-Injury among Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder.

OBJECTIVES: To find the prevalence as well as to identify the predictors as protective and risk factors of Non-Suicidal Self-Injury (NSSI) among children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). METHODS: In this analytical cross sectional survey 83 children with ASD age range from 8 to 18 years were selected through convenient sampling technique from five special schools of Lahore city. The Urdu form of a standardized tool was used to assess NSSI. RESULTS: Statistical analysis indicated overall point prevalence of NSSI was 33%. Moreover banging/self-beating (47%), scratching (38), pinching (35%), picking scabs (33%), self-biting (32%), pulling hair (30%) and rubbing skin (19%) emerged as common forms of challenging behavior. Further regression analysis showed that age B(1.68*, P<.05), gender B(3.72, P<.001) and severity level of ASD B(1.85***, p<.0001) as risk factors/positive predictors of NSSI. However early intervention (-0.66***, P<.0001) and involvement of parents in counselling (-2.66*, P<.05) emerged as protective factors/negative predictors of NSSI among children with ASD. CONCLUSION: Non-suicidal self-injury is a serious challenge among children with ASD. Early intervention, counselling and parental involvement in managing the children with ASD will not only prevent but reduce the challenging behaviors.